Automobile fender



Julylv, 1923. 1.462.104 S. G. FITZ SIMONS f AUTOMOBILE FENDER Filed Ma'rch 19, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTOR/VEYS July 17, 1923.

S. G. FITZ SIMONS l AUTOMOBILE FENDER l, l

Filed March 19, 1923 2 5119515-91891; 2

Patented July 17, 1923.

Tris

SAMUEL G. rrrzsnvions, orcHniiLiisfroN, sou'rH CAROLINA. f

T o rall whom t may concern.' l Beit known that I, SAMUEL ident of' Charleston, in f the county l.of Charleston and State off'South" Carolina, haveinvented certainy new and kuseful Improvements in Automobile Fenders', 'of which the following is a specification.'

(tion illustrated in my United StateslPatent No. 1,430,22i`,A granted September 26,1922. j Briefly stated 'an' importantrobject of'this invention isl to provide an automobile fendlstriking a person and more specifically the" invention aims to' provide'simple f means n prevented `from sagging .20' l part'of 'this 'applicationV and in whichlike" 3o Ver which is rigidly'f-and securely''held` in its" open for operativeposition subsequent to whereby one side is when open. y ,i

` A further object istoprovide an automobile fender which is of highly simplified construction, neat 'in appearance andcheap ,to manufacture. "l

parent during the coursel ofthe following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a numerals ,are employed to 'designatelike i parts throughout the same,`

.Open 4 i Figure 2 :is audetail perspective illustrat-AA ing a locking pawl and associated parts'em-,

bodied in the invention.

` set for operation. y

open.`

holding the `fenderl open.'

` Inl thea'drawing,wherein for theupurpose ofillustrationis shown aj'preferred embodiment of the inventionv the' numeral 5`gener`ally designates a motor vehicle havinga frame I i i ofthe frame by pivot elements. Sand theupfA ,l per portions of thelevers 7 i have connection'.v

6 to whichthe improved fender maybe con# nected." V,As illustrated in *Figure 1a pair offmain levers V7 4are pivotedtintermediate,

their ends tothe extended terminal portions or pick-up'sheets 11' are trained.

- y i u y Gr. FrrzSI?V MONS, a citizen ofthe United States, andres.

'Figure 1 is a perspective ofthe ffender i 'Figure 4. is a ed@ elevation einsamer.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective illustrat-y ingthe means for Whenthe rapparatus isin its set positionk l yim'rfoivroB11-.E FENDER.k y u d Application led March 19, 1923.` `Serialv 1ilo.,626,070.'` f

as illustratedinFigureB `the sheets :or cur-` tains 11 4' are trained about the' upper spring roller 10 and when the device is in yitsopen or operative position as illustrated in Figure 4: the sheets orcurtains are open or unrolled. L The curtains are connectedat theirouter f ends toa lower curtain rod or roller .14 carriedy by roller supporting arms 16V.' i The rear lThis invention relates to automobile fenders and isan improvementfover the construcends oftheroller supporting larms 16 -are pivoted vas indicated at 17 to the lower' portions of the main levers 7 and when the main* levers'7 are swun lupwardly andrearw'ardly as,"illustratedinl igure 1 the lowerkportions ymove thev arms 16 downwardly. It vmight .be

stated that when"thepartsI are in-ajset yposi-` tion the springs 20 hold the same in that y l `l position vand when a person is struck the sub- Other objects andadvantageswill be ap" sequent upward movement 'of the roller` 10r permits the spring toimmediately -swing-the parts to the position illustrated in :Figure 1.

When the parts are in theposition illustrated in Figure 3 the lower roller Vlliis engaged by thelongitudinally curved slotted terminalportions 26 of latches 27. `:The' latches -27jare pivoted intermediate theirends as indicated at 28`to adepending lug 29 `carried by the intermediate portion of a protector strip 30. The protector stripv 30 overf hangs'y vthecurtains 11 and is secured to the levers 7 by the lugs 21. y

Referring again to the latches 27 it willA be seen that the longitudinally curved slotted terminal portions of-'the' same receive the lower roller 14`so as tok hold' the .same in set position. As the actuating vends or what might loe/said to be the contact ends'of the latches r27 are 'arranged directly behind the contact bar 36 the rearward movement of the contactr bar will swing the latches 27 on their pivots so that the curvedI terminalportions 26 will be movedy out of supportingk engage` mentwith the lower roller 14. More specifically when a pedestrian is struck` by the contactv bar 36, the contact bar will move rear? i i, wardly and 'swing'thelatches =27` vron their ',wlth ajspringroller 1() about which curtainsl pivots 28 so as to release the bar 14" and pertion illustrated in Figure yIt might be said that the terminalportions 26 aremore or lessghooked and therefore are not easily released from engagement With the bar 14; as al result of vibrations'or ordi- 5 nary movement "of the vehicle. The terL minal portions 26 of t-he latches 27 are re,- leased from engagement with the bar le; only as a result of the rearward Amovement of the contact bar 36 Whichforcibly swings l the latches 27 on thei-r pivots 28.y

To positively prevent the accidental movement `of the latches 27 on the pivot ypign 28 ythe'contactlmr i's-provided with a .pair of tpivoted ,locking lugs .50 which operate in l slots inthe Contact bar. It will be seen that t-heglugs ,f5Q are pivoted intermediate their ffends 4'as indicated atei to the contact bar -36 fand are normally maintained in engage- -mentavvith the ends of the'latches 27 by a 20. tripping rod 53. t if When the contact b-arl36 is struck the links v56 and 57 connected thereto Will swing V(the ievers 7 on 'their pivots and Will'move the armsv 16 downwardly; vAlsothisfrear- 'W`ard movement of the contact Vbar 36jwill "svingfthe pavvl operating l-inks60 on their f 'pivots '61:- `This;'swinging movement ot the pavvl operating 'links' will cause the lugs 6l carriedytherebyto swing the pawlski on 301 'Stheirzpivots {S2-so :that the vpaivls '64 will engage the ratchet teeth 6,5` on the rear side ot the levers 7.=

v, When the ratchet-harsvor ratchets 64 are'y thus engaged Wit-h the levers 7 the parts are 351"securely held --in their operative positions and vvill nbt'sag ,as a result of Weight on `oie sideio'f theceifiterfV l f g lit `vvil-lde-seenthat the Weight of a person `isi-'not von'ly'sup'ljorted by the roller support- 40 i'g arms l5 but by the supporting bars 17.

In operation the; fender is setas illustrated in Figure with the contact bai-36 and the tripping rodarranged beyond the other pa-rt'sfso that it a rperson ifs hit these parts 46 vvill swing the 'lin-ks 56 andl 57l to the position illustrated and this movement of `the links ejer-and 5'7 will separate the rollers l0and lll. idlithjthe rollers t0 and 14 thus separated 'the-pick up curtain 11 will be spread. Jfor 50 receiving the-person struck y-bythe vehicle@ It Wifilbe seen that the dreary ends of the flinks-=56 and 57 yhave connection with the members 6@ and the membersGO operate the f "pawls 64 so that the paWls are yin'turn en- 65 -geiged kWiththe-*teeth 65 whereby to holdthe lever v7 in, a lmore or less .rigid positionso g-.that v s'aggi'ng prevented.

` f i. Attention 4isr directedto ,Figure 3 vwhich Oqillustrates'th-at the .pa-wle 64 are normally f 'shield in' engagement-With; the flugs 1:02 kand when the laterally projecting members v61 swing-m the sameylbeyond dead center the pointed ends of thelpawlsf vvi-ll engage/the 65 ratchet teeth 65 ,as illustrated in Figure k1Q of the fender on oneiside` is The` springs 104 connected to the pawls and vto 'the pivot elements 8 normally hold the pawls in engagement With the stop lugs 100 and when the apparatus is swun to its operative position the' :coiled sprlng Will move the paWl to its operative position and hold the same in engagement With the ratchet teeth 65. n

In use the tripping rod 65 is normally maintained in spaced relation to the tripping rod 36-by means of a longitudinally curved spring 110, the intermediate portion of which is secured tothe rod 53 as indicated at 1;12. l/Vhen the rod 53 which is spring urged to a" position in spaced relation vto 4the bar k36 `is engaged byya person the pressure ofJ the spring 110 will be overcome and the hol-ding members `50 will be releasedfrom locking engagement with the ends of thelatches 27` whereby the lowerrod 14; may drop to its operative position as illustratedin Figurey l. d Yith reference tothe foregoing description taken in connection with ythe-acc,oi`npany ing drawings it will be lseen that an automobile fender or pick-up device constructed rin accordance With this linvention Willbe extremely simple to apply to an automobile and will eiiecti'velycopen lWhen struck for picking up a pedestrian, whereby the vehiclev will, not bellikely to seriously injure the" persongstruck.

' Having thusdescribed the invention, ivhat is claimed isL- i 1. "An automobiley fender comprisingf a pair'of main levers having ,means whereby the same may be pivoted intermediate their ends to a motor vehicle, a roller vcarried by the terminal portions of said levers, supportfing arms pivoted: to the` lower portions yof said levers, a second roller` carriedgbfy the outer terminal :portions of said arms, and links connected to said varms and to, said levers, a contact bar carried 4by said links, and a curtain connected- 'to saidirollers. y

` 2. A fender for motor vehicles comprising `a pairof levers having means 'whereby the same may be pivoted intermediate their ends to a motor vehicle, rollersupporting arms pivoted at their rear ends tothe lo'Wer portions of said leversyrollers carried by said 'arms and said levers, a curtainconnected to said rollers, .pairs of linksco-nne'cted to said 'levers and said arms, a contact bar connected to said links, Aand means lvvhereby tov vsvvingY the rollers to their operative 'positions when released. y tl 3. A fender for moltor'fvehicles comprising afpair of levers having means whereby-,the same maybe pivoted intermediateftheir ends vto yafmotior vehicle, roll-er supporting arms pivotedtattheir rear ends to theloyver portions of said-levers, rollers carried hy vsaid arms andvsaid levers, a curtainconnected togsaid rollers, pairs of links eonn'eeted to said levers and said armani Contact hair connected to said links, means whereby to swing the rollers to their operative positions when released, a protector strip overhanging one of said rollers, and a pair of latchesipivoted intermediate their ends to said protector strip and having slotted terminal portions to engage one of the rollers whereby to hold the same in a set position.

4. A fender for motor vehicles comprisinga pair of levers having means whereby thesame may be pivoted intermediate their ends to a motor vehicle, roller supporting arms pivoted at their rear ends to the lower portions of said levers, rollers carried by said arms and said levers, a curtain connected to saidrollers, pairs of linksI connected to said levers and said arms, a contact bar connected to said links, means whereby to swing the rollers to their operative positions when released, a protector strip overhanging one of said rollers, a pair of latches pivoted intermediate their ends to saidy protector strip and having slotted terminal portions to engage one of the rollers whereby to hold the same in a set position, and .locking lugs pivoted intermediate their ends to said contact bar and engaged with said latches whereby to hold the same against accidental movement.

5. A fender for motor vehicles comprising a pair or' levers having means whereby the same may be pivoted intermediate their ends* to a motor vehicle, roller supporting arms pivoted at their rear endsl to the lower portions of said levers, rollers carried by said arms and said levers, a curtain connected to said rollers, pairs of links connected to said levers and said arms, a contact bar connected to said links, means whereby to swing the rollers to their operative positions whenreleased, a protector strip overhanging one of said rollers, a pairof latches pivoted intermediate their ends to said kprotector strip and having slotted terminal portions to engage one of the rollers whereby toil hold the same in a set position, locking lugs pivoted intermediate their ends to said contact bar and engaged with said latches whereby to hold the same against accidental movement, and a tripping bar having pivotal connection with the outer portions of said locking "said levers being provided with ratchet lugs, and arranged in advance of said con` c tact bar.

6. A fender for motor vehicles comprising a pair of levers having means whereby the same may be pivoted intermediate their ends to a motor vehicle, roller supporting arms pivoted at their rear ends to the lower porsaid rollers, pairs of links connected to said levers and said arms, a contact bar connected to said links, means whereby to swing the rollers to their operative positions when released, a protector strip overhanging one of said rollers, a pair of latches pivoted intermediate their ends to said protectorstrip and having slotted terminal portions to engage one of the rollers whereby to hold the same in a set position, locking lugs pivoted intermediate their ends to said contact bar and engaged with said latches whereby to hold the same against accidental movement, a tripping bar having pivotal connection with the outer portions of said locking lugs, and arranged in advance of said contact bar, ratchet operating links pivoted to certain of said first' named links, ratchets arranged adjacent to said ratchet operating links and being spring actuated, said levers being provided with ratchet teeth engaged by the ratchets. f

7. A fender for motor vehicles comprising a pair of levers having means whereby the same may be pivoted intermediate their.

ends to a motor vehicle, roller supporting arms pivoted at their rear ends to the lower portions of said levers, rollers carried by said arms and said levers, a curtain connect- `ed to said rollers, pairs of links connected to said levers and said arms, a contact bar y 'connected to said links, means wherebyy to y swing the rollers to their operative positions when released, a protector strip overhanging one of said rollers, a pair of latches pivoted intermediate their ends to said protector strip and having slotted terminal portions to engage one of the rollers whereby to hold the same in a set position, locking lugs pivoted intermediate their ends to said contact bar and engaged with said latchesratchets arranged adjacent to said ratchet operating links and being spring actuated,

teeth engaged by saidratchets, and spring means normally holding said ratchets in inoperative positions and adapted to swingthe ratchets into engagement with said ratchet teeth when the apparatus is sprung.

' SAMUEL G. FITZSIMONS. 

